Coil transfer and storage tool and machine for winding same

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for winding and a method for storing electrical coils used in the axial insertion of motor windings provides for placing the winding coil on a transfer and storage tool in a manner similar to that required for axial insertion. The tool is inverted and the coil is transferred to an axial insertion machine prior to placement in a stator core. The tool preferably is an injection molded plastic, form, with a series of blades arranged similarly to the blades of the axial inserter. While prewound coils may be placed on the tool manually, the apparatus of this invention winds successive coil throws and automatically places them on the transfer and storage tool.

United States Patent 1 91' Kieffer et a1.

[451 Feb. 6, 1973 COIL TRANSFER AND STORAGE 984,921 2/1911 Donnell..220/97 T L A D H E FOR WINDING 3,091,36l 5/1963 Gawron ..220/97 SAMEFrank S. Korski, St. Louis County, both of Mo.

Filed: Feb. 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 113,198

US. Cl ..l40/92.1, 29/596 Int. Cl. ..B2lf 3/00 Field of Search...l40/92.1, 92.2; 29/205 1), 596, 1 I 29/605; 220/97 R References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 8/1970 Cutler et a1. ..140/92.1

v1571 'An apparatus for winding and a method for storing Pavesi 140/9227 E )I l l r111mnmmmul W 2,955,622 10/1960 Spotten et al. ..l40/92.1

Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Attorney-Polster & Polster [ABSTRACTelectrical coils used in the axial insertion of motor windings providesfor placing the winding coil on a transfer and storage tool in a mannersimilar to that required for axial insertion. The tool is inverted andthe coil is transferred to an axial insertion machine prior to placementin a stator core. The tool preferably is an injection molded plastic,form, with a series of blades arranged similarly to the blades of theaxial inserter. While prewound coils may be placed on the tool manually,the apparatus of this invention winds successive coil throws andautomatically places them on the transfer and storage tool.

18 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures COIL TRANSFER AND STORAGE TOOL AND MACHINEFOR WINDING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates towinding techniques em,- ployed with axial coil insertion machinescommonly used in the electric motor industry for axially insertingprewound coils into the stator slots of electric motors.

Axial coil inserting machines, exemplified by those illustrated anddescribed in the U.S. Pat. to Hill, No. 3,324,536 are used extensivelyin motor production. Such inserting machines commonly have a cylindricalarray of axially parallel fingers or blades mounted on a platform orbase plate at one end, having a free end extending upwardly. The arrayof fingers is disposed about a central opening and each finger alignswith the face of a stator core tooth. A fluted impeller, commonlyreferred to as a stripper, is slidably mounted within the finger array.The stripper is conventionally mounted on a free end of a piston rodwhich permits travel of the stripper from a lower position below thefixed end of the blades to an upper position above the free end of thefinger array. It is the action. of the stripper that inserts theprewound coils into the stator core. The prewound coils are placed overthe blades in some predetermined configuration. The stripper carries thecoils over the free end of the blade array as it moves to its upperposition. Wedge guide members, pusher rods, guide rods and a wedgemagazine commonly are provided for inserting bore wedges simultaneouslywith winding insertion.

Manufacturers generally strive to obtain maximum production from theirexisting equipment. Motor production lines utilizing axial insertingmachines have a theoretical limit of maximum production defined when theinserting machines are in fact continuously placing prewound coils intostator cores; Theoretical maximum production cannot be attained ofcourse, as the prewound coils must be positioned on the machine beforeinsertion takes place. Additionally, other time consuming operatorsteps, heretofore associated with axial inserters, function to widen thegulf between actual production and theoretical maximum production.

Presently, prewound coils used for axial insertion are wound on coilforms or jigs at a first station, removed from the forms and physicallymoved to the inserting machine. The jigs are stepped to producedifferent coil throws for the various coil sets utilized in the finalwinding. For the purposes of this specification, a coil throw is definedas those continuous magnet wire turns arranged in two stator slots andconnected by end wire at each end of a stator core. A group of one ormore coil throws defines a coil set. Conventionally, each coil setconstitutes a pole for the motor. Jigs are special machine tools andtheir cost prohibits their use in large numbers. Each lamination typerequires its own particular jig set. While the prewound coils may beused directly for winding insertion after their removal from the jigs,common practice, developed because prewinding the coils takes less timethan inserting them, is to backlog a quantity of prewound coil sets.During storage, each coil throw of the coil set must be segregated. Anumber of metal clips, similar to hinged paper clips, are used for thispurpose. The clipped coil sets are stored on a peg board. When the boardis loaded, it is moved to the insertion station. The boards are largephysically and while they work well for their intended purpose, thisform of coil set storage and the operative procedures necessitatedthereby have been major reasons for the excessive discrepancy betweenactual production and theoretical maximum production discussed above.

Depending on the motor type, two or more motor poles are insertedsimultaneously. The insertion machine operator must remove each clipindividually and place the motor pole over the proper blade span beforethe inserter is ready for operation. This is a time consuming, arduousprocess. Several advances in the art, exemplified by the U.S. Pat. toEricson, No.

3,415,292, attempt to increase actual production rates by combining coilwinding apparatuses and axial inserting machines in a single unit. Suchapparatuses, in general, wind the coil above the fingers of aconventional axial inserter and thereafter automatically place the coilon those fingers. While these machines work well for their intendedpurposes, they are complex mechanically and correspondingly represent alarge capital expense to the motor manufacture. One reason for theircomplex construction stems from their pur-' ported advantageous combinedform. Coil winding is carried out above the blades of the inserterapparatus portion. Placing the prewound coil over the inserter bladesrequires a certain amount of dexterity when performed manually.Duplicating human dexterity by machine is not achieved easily.Consequently, exceedingly complex machinery is required to wind andthereafter automatically place a coil in the finger array. For example,the Ericson patent uses collapsible wire forms and an intricate geararrangement to achieve that result.

The invention disclosed hereinafter provides a novel winding machine andstorage tool which tool permits simultaneous loading of the insertionmachine blades with all coil sets necessary for a single machine pass.It

eliminates the need for clips, thereby reducing operator steps andnon-operational machine time. A chief distinguishing feature between ourinvention as described and claimed and that disclosed in the above citedart is our ability to bracket the storage tool with forms for windingthe coils. By maintaining individual machines for the winding andinserting functions, we are able to operate upwardly through the base ofthe storage tool. Collapsible forms are not required because the toolitself strips the wound coil from the winding form. While the method andapparatus disclosed are not fully automated, we have found that motorproduction output for our system favorably compares with systemsautomated completely. We achieve this result with considerably lowercapital expenditure.

Winding transfer tools and methods of use also are known in the art. TheU.S. Pat. to Kieffer, No. 3,525,147 is one example of such tools. Ourinvention differentiates from prior art tools in that it may be loadedeither manually or by machine and that its construction permitsconvenient storing of prewound coils for extended time periods.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved means forstoring prewound coils.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool which permits thesimultaneous transfer of prewound coils from the tool to the blades ofan axial insertion machine.

derly and expeditious manner than has been known heretofore.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in lightof the following description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, generallystated, a machine is provided for winding an improved coil transfer andstorage tool. The tool has an annular array of fingers arranged aboutand attached to a base at one end and extending upwardly at a secondend. A portion of the base below the attached fingers has an internaldiameter greater than the external diameter of the annular finger array,and the tools are stackable successively. The tool is constructed from alow cost material by a simple process. The tool is insertable in thewinding machine and that machine windseach coil throw consecutively andloads the finished coil set on the transfer and storage toolautomatically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, FIG. I is a view inperspective, partly broken away, of a top portion of the apparatus ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective, partly broken away, of a bottom portionof the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-5 are sequential views in perspective demonstrating the coilwinding procedure of the apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of one illustrative embodiment of coilwinding and transfer tool of this invention showing one coil set in itsstored position;

FIG. 7 is a view in perspective demonstrating a stacked relationship forthe tool of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the transfer tool shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the transfertool shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a second illustrative embodiment of coilwinding and transfer tool of this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of the transfertool shown in FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2,reference numeral 1 indicates a winding machine having a verticalsupport member 2 attached to a base not shown. The base may be anyconventional structure sufficient to stabilize support member 2.

Member 2 is a broad, U-shaped beam conventionally constructed of steelor similar metal and has an opening 3 near its top.

A winding assembly 4 is mounted to member 2 below opening 3. Windingassembly 4 includes a pulley 5, a first hollow shaft 6, a supportsection 7, a gear connector 8, a second hollow shaft 9, and a windingarm 10.

Pulley 5 engages a belt 11 driven by a power source, conventionally anelectric motor, not shown. Pulley 5 has an axial opening 12 in it whichprovidesmeans for mounting pulley 5 to one end of shaft 6. Pulley 5 issecured to shaft 6 by any convenient means, as by a key or a shrink fit.Shaft 6 is a cylindrical, tubular shaft attached to pulley 5 at one endjournal mounted to the support section 7 and drivenly connected, throughconnector 8 at its second end to shaft 9, also journal mounted to thesupport section 7.

Support section 7 is fixed to vertical member 2 by conventional methods.Tapped screws or spot welds work well. Section 7 has an arm 14 and abrace 15 attached to member 2 in cantilever fashion. Brace 15 comprisesan upper platform 13 and a lower platform 16 arranged to resemble theletter C." Connector 8 is mounted in the C between platforms 13 and 16.Connector 8 is a conventional double screw connector of the type commonto the reeling art adapted to produce alternate vertical rise and fallof shaft 9 and arm 10 to fan the coil throw vertically. Connector 8 hasa longitudinal opening through it, which opening aligns with tubularshafts 6 and 9.

Arm 10 is removably mounted at the lower end of shaft 9. Preferably, arm10 and shaft 9 are locked together by set screws 17 through a hub 18which is part of the arm 10.

Winding arm 10 includes a horizontal plate 19, a counter balance 20 anda winding needle 21. Winding assembly 4 has an axial passageway 22therethrough, which serves as a magnet wire feedway. Passageway 22 iscoincident with the construction of tubular shafts 6 and 9 and theiralignment with connector 8. Passageway 22 runs the length of windingassembly 4, opening on a lower surface 23 of plate 19. Magnet wire ishand fed through shaft 6 and thus passageway 22 until it emerges alonglower surface 23. The wire is then drawn through needle 21 and anchoredat any convenient fixed part of the apparatus. Further operationalfeatures of the apparatus will be discussed hereinafter. 1

Several wire feeding arrangements are compatible with the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 1. It is common to draw magnet wire directly fromits shipping container, conventionally a barrel type, into windingmachines. This is accomplished easily with our apparatus by feeding thewire into shaft 6 and passageway 22. Some care must be taken to protectthe wire insulation from damage. When necessary, a nylon protective tubeor a simple guide wheel arrangement adapted to assist in guiding thewire to passageway 22 works well.

A work platform 24 is attached to support 2 by any convenient method.Surface 24 has a pair of geared, indexing wheels 25 rotatably mounted onit. A first wheel 26 is attached to a shaft 28 which in turn is drivenby controllable power means, generally an electric motor, not shown.Wheel 26 thus controllably drives a second wheel 27. Wheel 27 isdisposed over an opening through platform 24. Wheel 27 has a basesection adapted to receive a winding and storage tool 30.

Referring to FIG. 2, an under carriage 61 of our invention, that is,that portion of the apparatus below work platform 24, has the benefit ofsimple and uncomplicated construction. While the preferred embodiment isadapted to wind two coil throws for each coil set,

those skilled in the art will recognize that similar techniques may beutilized with any reasonable number of coil throws per pole. Ourinventious concept can be used with other windings presently utilized inconventional motor design techniques. Carriage 6l includes air cylinder32 and 33, a pair of piston rods 34 and 3S, and a pair of drive blocks36 and 40, which are described with particularity hereinafter. An angleiron 31 is mounted on vertical support 2 by any of the conventionalmethods discussed previously. Angle iron 31 supports two air cylinders32 and 33 mounted on it. Cylinders 32 and 33 are operatively connectedto piston rods 34 and 35 respectively. I

Piston rod 34 is attached to and supports drive block 36. Block 36supports a pair of guide rods 37, an external coil form 38 and aninternal coil form 39. Block 36 has an opening 51 in it, which permitsfree passage of rod 35.

External form 38 is a semi-cylindrical trough shaped body widening nearits free, upper end. Internal coil form 39 likewise is asemi-cylindrical, trough shaped body.

Piston rod 35 is attached to and supports drive block 40, positionedabove block 36. Block 40 has two openings in it, sized to allow block 40to ride guide rods 37 in a free, close fit. Block 40 has an externalmandrel 41 and an internal mandrel 42 fastened to it. Mandrels 41 and 42preferably are solid, semi-cylindrical shaped bodies. Under carriage 61is so positioned and arranged that coil forms 38 and 39 encircle a partof, yet are spaced from, mandrels 41 and 42. This is important as itpermits relative movement between coil form and mandrel pairs withsufficient clearance even when the mandrel or coil form pairs are loadedwith magnet wire.

The design of the free ends of mandrel 42 and coil form 34 may vary. Wehave found, however, that consideration should be given to the shape offormed coil sets. In transferring coil sets from transfer tool 30 to theblades of the axial inserter, easy transfer and final insertion isfacilitated when that portion of a coil turn eventually housed in thestator slot is formed in the winding process so as to be tangential tothe blades of the axial inserter.

Coil storage and transfer tool 30 may assume various configurations. Twosuch configurations are illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 11. In general,tool 30 includes a cylindrical, open ended base 43having a longitudinalopening 54 through it. A plurality of integrally attached and annularlydisposed blades 29 extend upwardly from base 43. Individual bladesdefine a gap 60 between adjacent blade pairs. In the preferredembodiment of our invention, blades 29 are arranged to represent avisual marking system. A relatively wide, in angular dimension, blade 52indicates the center of each coil set. Coil throws are placed, eithermechanically or manually, in successive gaps 60, as is demonstrated inFIG. 6. A tall blade 53 marks the dividing line between successive coilsets.

Another form of blade. marking system is illustrated in FIG. 11. Whilethis embodiment employs a different blade height arrangement, it isanalogous to the preceding description and is not discussed in detail.

Conversely, where storage and transfer tool 30 is loaded exclusivelyby'the apparatus of our invention, blades 29 may be uniform in size andgeometry.

Construction of tool may vary. However, by utilizing injection molds andassociated techniques, large numbers of low cost tools may be produced.While any suitable material, for example, plastic or metal, may be used,certain plastic compounds require additional structural rigidity toprevent blade breakage, particularly where the axial length of blades 29is long. By thickening blades 29 near base 30, as exemplified in FIG. 9,extra structural strength is provided.

Base 43 preferably has at least one notch 44in it. The tools illustrateduse two symmetrically placed notches. Notch 44 mates with acorresponding knob (not shown) 'in wheel 27. Their engagement holds'andlocates tool 30 during the winding and indexing procedures describedhereinafter. We prefer notch 44 in an external surface 56 of base 43,but other conventional mating adaptions may be utilized with the notchalong an internal wall 46.

Internal wall 46 has a step 47 in it, giving tool 30 a first internaldiameter 49 and a second internal diameter 50. Diameter 50 is sizedslightlly larger than the external diameter of the freeend of blades 29.Step 47 and diameter 50 thus define a stacking section 48. This is animportant feature as stacking section 48 allows successive accumulationsof storage tools 30, one atop another, either loaded or unloaded, asdemonstrated in FIG. 7.

In spite of the fact that making the tools 30 out of plastic would beinexpensive, plastic construction was initially thought to be unsuitablebecause of plastic flexibility, even in the structurally stabilized toolof FIGS. 8 and 9. However, unexpected results were obtained when tool 30was constructed of commonly available acrylonitrile butadiene styrenecopolymer, polyphenyleneoxide, polycarbonate or similar commercialplastics. When formed from these plastics, blades 29 cure into highlyflexible arms. Instead of being disadvantageous, as was originallyforecast, it was found that the flexing of blades 29 allows rapid manualdistribution of prewound coils. Consequently, tools 30 made of suitableplastics may be used commercially even where the apparatus of ourinvention is not available. In addition, the flexible arms do notrequire the enlarged blade assembly shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Rather,uniform structural embodiments, similar to the illustrations of FIGS. 10and 11, work well except in aggravated stressing situations.

Operation of the apparatus of our invention is uncomplicated. An emptytransfer and storage tool 30 is mounted on wheel 27. Assuming priormagnet wire threading, actuation of conventional controls, not

shown, commences the winding operation by actuating cylinder 33, whichin turn forces piston rod upwardly. Upward movement of piston rod 35causes block 40, internal mandrel 42, and external mandrel 41 I to riseto the position shown in FIG. 3. As there shown,

the mandrels have tool 30 between them. Block rides guide rods 37 duringthis upward travel. Coil winding is commenced by rotating arm 10.Connector 8 lowers and raises arm 10 simultaneously with that rotation.Vertical movement by arm 10 produces a fanned coil. The number of turnsin a particular coil throw is determined by conventional motor designconsiderations and corresponds to the number of complete revolutions ofarm 10. Conventional counting means in conjunction with winding assembly4 may be used in establishing the proper number of arm rotations.

Internal and external wire forms 39 and 38 respectively are next raisedto position by actuating cylinder 32 and its associated piston rod 34.Movement by piston rod 34 and block 36 forces the wire forms to thepositions shown in FIG. 4. Arm 10 is again rotated until the requirednumber of fanned wire turns is obtained. Two coil throws complete onepole of the motor winding of this embodiment of our invention.Thereafter, both mandrels and wire forms are drawn downwardly bycylinders 32 and 33. This downward movement deposits the wound coils onstorage and transfer tool 30. Transfer tool 30 is rotated thereafter byindex wheels and the above .process is repeated until the requirednumber of coil sets is obtained. FIG. 6 illustrates a coil set obtainedfrom the apparatus of this invention. The procedure as describedproduces series wound coil sets. Parallel connections require cuttingthe magnet wire between coil sets as necessary.

After winding, wire laden transfer tool is removed from wheel 27.Storage of the tool and winding is very convenient. Successive tools maybe stacked to any convenient handling length. Individual coil throws arealways separated by the tool itself.

At the insertion station, tool 30 is inverted and aligned with theinserter blades. The entire prewound coil is placed on the inserterblades by a single downward stripper motion, manual or mechanical. Theunloaded tool is then returned to the winding station for reuse.

Numerous variations, within the scope of the appended claims, will occurto those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description andaccompanying drawings. Thus, the apparatus of our invention may beenclosed in a stylized cabinet. Certain operational features may bevaried. For example, magnet wire may enter needle 21 directly, ratherthan through winding assembly 4. Where direct feed is used, windingassembly 4 need not have passageway 22 through it. Consequently, shafts6 and 9 may be solid structures. Winding needle 21 itself may beredesigned and need be little more than a simple wire guide. Additionalfeatures may be introduced. Conventional means to cut the magnet wireautomatically after coil set completion may be desirable in commercialembodiments of our invention. As indicated, the design of storage andtransfer tool 30, coil forms 38 and 39 or mandrels 41 and 42 may bealtered. Thus, while individual forms and mandrels were described, theform and mandrel may be a single unit, with a stepped exterior portioncorresponding to successive coil throws. In this situation, winding arm10 would, besides providing vertical movement for forming the coil, movevertically in discrete movements corresponding to the step sections ofthe form. Diameter 49 may be either greater or less than the diameter ofthe inserter blades, depending upon whether tool 30 is designed to beplaced internally or externally of those blades. We prefer the tool tomount the blades internally. When interior use is contemplated, theblades 29 of tool 30 may be grooved along their exterior surface as anaid in tool placement and wire removal. Additionally, while cylinders 32and 33 were described as being of a compressed air variety, they may behydraulic or hydraulic-air combinations. These variations are merelyillustrative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A winding machine, which comprises:

a supporting structure;

a winding assembly mounted on said structure, said winding assemblycomprising a rotating shaft, winding means operatively connected to saidshaft, and means for rotating said shaft;

a platform mounted on said structure below said winding assembly, saidplatform having at least one opening therethrough;

indexing means attached to said platform about said opening, saidindexing means comprising a first and a second'mating wheel, said firstwheel being controllably power driven and said second wheel beingdisposed about said opening;

a plastic coil storage and transfer tool adapted for mounting in saidsecond wheel, said tool comprising an open ended base having alongitudinal opening therethrough, and a plurality of blades spacedabout said opening having a first end attached to said base and a free,upwardly extending second end, said blades being flexible with respectto one another and to said base;

a carriage mounted to said structure below said platform, said carriageincluding at least one portion thereof movable from a downward retractedposition to an upward extended position; and

means for forming a coil, said coil forming means comprising at leastone internal form and one external form responsive to said carriagemovement and adapted to bracket said indexing means in the extended,upward position of said carriage.

2. The winding machine of claim 1 wherein said coil storage and transfertool has a first internal diameter along said blade portion and a secondlarger internal diameter along a portion of said base, said diametersdelimiting a stacking section whereby said tools may be stackedsuccessively.

3. The winding machine of claim 2 wherein said second internal diameterportion of said coil storage and transfer tool has at least one notch init.

4. The winding machine of claim 3 wherein said blades of said coiltransfer and storage tool blades have substantially similar geometricconstruction.

5. The winding machine of claim 3 wherein said winding assembly includesmeans for varying vertical rise and fall of said winding means.

6. In combination, a winding machine having an internal form, anexternal form spaced laterally from said internal form, means forwinding a coil of magnet wire around said forms from one to another, aplastic coil storage and transfer tool comprising an open ended basehaving a longitudinal opening therethrough and a plurality of spacedblades about said opening, attached to said base at one end and free atthe other end, said blades being flexible with respect to one another,said tool being positioned with said blades between said internal andsaid external forms during coil winding with the free ends of the bladesbeing directed toward but spaced from said magnet wire coil, said tooland forms being movable relative to one another, whereby reaches of saidcoil are placed between blades of said tool while said tool is ,heldbetween said forms, said flexible blades of said tool facilitating saidcoil placement.

I and transfer tool has a first internal diameter along said bladeportion, said first internal diameter being less 7. A plastic coilstorage and transfer tool comprising 8. The coil storage and transfertool of claim 7 wherein said blades are disposed annularly about saidopening.

9. The coil transfer and storage tool of claim 8 wherein said tool has afirst internal diameter along said blade portion and a second largerinternal diameter along a portion of said base, said diametersdelimiting a stacking section whereby said tool may be stackedsuccessively.

10. The coil transfer and storage tool of claim 9 wherein said bladeshave substantially similar geometric construction.

11. The coil transfer and storage tool of claim 9 wherein said secondinternal diameter portion has a notch in it.

12. A coil storage and transfer tool for an axial insertion machinehaving an annular array of fingers extending upwardly to receive a coilset, which comprises:

a base portion having a longitudinal opening therethrough;and

a plurality of blades disposed annularly about said opening, thediameter of said blades being less than the diameter of the annularfinger array of said axial inserter, said blades being flexible withrespect to one another under manual manipulation.

13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said coil storage than the diameter ofthe annular finger array of said axial inserter, and a second largerinternal diameter along a portion of said base, said last mentioneddiameter delimiting a stacking section whereby said tools may be stackedsuccessively.

14. The tool of claim 13 wherein said second internal diameter portionof said coil storage and transfer tool has at least one notch in it.

15. The tool of claim 14 wherein said blades of said coil storage andtransfer tool have substantially similar geometric construction.

16. The tool of claim 15 wherein said coil storage and transfer tool isconstructed from plastic material.

17. A method of winding a stator core of a dynamoelectric machinecomprising:

winding a first coil set comprising the main winding of saiddynamoelectric machine;

mounting said first coil set on a first plastic coil storage andtransfer tool;

winding a second coil set comprising the secondary winding of saiddynamoelectric machine; mounting said second coil set on a secondplastic coil storage and transfer tool;

transferring said coil set from one of said first and said second coilstorage and transfer tools to an axial inserter;

transferring said coil set from the other of said first and said secondcoil storage and transfer tools to an axial inserter; and l axiallyinserting said first and said second coil sets into said stator core.

18. The method of claim 17 further characterized by the step ofbacklogging a plurality of coil laden first and second coil storage andtransfer tools prior to said first mentioned transferring step.

1. A winding machine, which comprises: a supporting structure; a windingassembly mounted on said structure, said winding assembly comprising arotating shaft, winding means operatively connected to said shaft, andmeans for rotating said shaft; a platform mounted on said structurebelow said winding assembly, said platform having at least one openingtherethrough; indexing means attached to said platform about saidopening, said indexing means comprising a first and a second matingwheel, said first wheel being controllably power driven and said secondwheel being disposed about said opening; a plastic coil storage andtransfer tool adapted for mounting in said second wheel, said toolcomprising an open ended base having a longitudinal openingtherethrough, and a plurality of blades spaced about said opening havinga first end attached to said base and a free, upwardly extending secondend, said blades being flexible with respect to one another and to saidbase; a carriage mounted to said structure below said platform, saidcarriage including at least one portion thereof movable from a downwardretracted position to an upward extended position; and means for forminga coil, said coil forming means comprising at least one internal formand one external form responsive to said carriage movement and adaptedto bracket said indexing means in the extended, upward position of saidcarriage.
 1. A winding machine, which comprises: a supporting structure;a winding assembly mounted on said structure, said winding assemblycomprising a rotating shaft, winding means operatively connected to saidshaft, and means for rotating said shaft; a platform mounted on saidstructure below said winding assembly, said platform having at least oneopening therethrough; indexing means attached to said platform aboutsaid opening, said indexing means comprising a first and a second matingwheel, said first wheel being controllably power driven and said secondwheel being disposed about said opening; a plastic coil storage andtransfer tool adapted for mounting in said second wheel, said toolcomprising an open ended base having a longitudinal openingtherethrough, and a plurality of blades spaced about said opening havinga first end attached to said base and a free, upwardly extending secondend, said blades being flexible with respect to one another and to saidbase; a carriage mounted to said structure below said platform, saidcarriage including at least one portion thereof movable from a downwardretracted position to an upward extended position; and means for forminga coil, said coil forming means comprising at least one internal formand one external form responsive to said carriage movement and adaptedto bracket said indexing means in the extended, upward position of saidcarriage.
 2. The winding machine of claim 1 wherein said coil storageand transfer tool has a first internal diameter along said blade portionand a second larger internal diameter along a portion of said base, saiddiameters delimiting a stacking section whereby said tools may bestacked successively.
 3. The winding machine of claim 2 wherein saidsecond internal diameter portion of said coil storage and transfer toolhas at least one notch in it.
 4. The winding machine of claim 3 whereinsaid blades of said coil transfer and storage tool blades havesubstantially similar geometric construction.
 5. The winding machine ofclaim 3 wherein said winding assembly includes means for varyingvertical rise and fall of said winding means.
 6. In combination, awinding machine having an internal form, an external form spacedlaterally from said internal form, means for winding a coil of magnetwire around said forms from one to another, a plastic coil storage andtransfer tool comprising an open ended base having a longitudinalopening therethrough and a plurality of spaced blades about saidopening, attached to said base at one end and free at the other end,said blades being flexible with respect to one another, said tool beingpositioned with said blades between said internal and said externalforms during coil winding with the free ends of the blades beingdirected toward but spaced from said magnet wire coil, said tool andforms being movable relative to one another, whereby reaches of saidcoil are placed between blades of said tool while said tool is heldbetween said forms, said flexible blades of said tool facilitating saidcoil placement.
 7. A plastic coil storage and transfer tool comprisingan open ended base having a longitudinal opening therethrough, and aplurality of blades spaced abouT said opening, said blades having afirst end attached to said base and a free, upwardly extending secondend, said blades being flexible with respect to one another under manualmanipulation.
 8. The coil storage and transfer tool of claim 7 whereinsaid blades are disposed annularly about said opening.
 9. The coiltransfer and storage tool of claim 8 wherein said tool has a firstinternal diameter along said blade portion and a second larger internaldiameter along a portion of said base, said diameters delimiting astacking section whereby said tool may be stacked successively.
 10. Thecoil transfer and storage tool of claim 9 wherein said blades havesubstantially similar geometric construction.
 11. The coil transfer andstorage tool of claim 9 wherein said second internal diameter portionhas a notch in it.
 12. A coil storage and transfer tool for an axialinsertion machine having an annular array of fingers extending upwardlyto receive a coil set, which comprises: a base portion having alongitudinal opening therethrough; and a plurality of blades disposedannularly about said opening, the diameter of said blades being lessthan the diameter of the annular finger array of said axial inserter,said blades being flexible with respect to one another under manualmanipulation.
 13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said coil storage andtransfer tool has a first internal diameter along said blade portion,said first internal diameter being less than the diameter of the annularfinger array of said axial inserter, and a second larger internaldiameter along a portion of said base, said last mentioned diameterdelimiting a stacking section whereby said tools may be stackedsuccessively.
 14. The tool of claim 13 wherein said second internaldiameter portion of said coil storage and transfer tool has at least onenotch in it.
 15. The tool of claim 14 wherein said blades of said coilstorage and transfer tool have substantially similar geometricconstruction.
 16. The tool of claim 15 wherein said coil storage andtransfer tool is constructed from plastic material.
 17. A method ofwinding a stator core of a dynamoelectric machine comprising: winding afirst coil set comprising the main winding of said dynamoelectricmachine; mounting said first coil set on a first plastic coil storageand transfer tool; winding a second coil set comprising the secondarywinding of said dynamoelectric machine; mounting said second coil set ona second plastic coil storage and transfer tool; transferring said coilset from one of said first and said second coil storage and transfertools to an axial inserter; transferring said coil set from the other ofsaid first and said second coil storage and transfer tools to an axialinserter; and axially inserting said first and said second coil setsinto said stator core.